Buttar made such well-directed efforts that they speedily restored the
day. Now, all but three on their side were captured. Out sprung Ernest
with his hoop, flying like the wind; and while his opponents were
looking on at the rapidity of his movements, Buttar, who had thrown
himself on the ground, as if exhausted, leaped up, and dashing along,
had recovered a prisoner before any one could overtake him. Ernest in
like manner regained another, and wheeling round as soon as he had
entered the base, he was off again, and had sent an opponent to prison,
and rescued another friend, without for a moment stopping. Sometimes he
would tell Buttar exactly what he was going to do, and so well were his
plans laid, that he seldom failed to accomplish his design. This gave
him confidence in himself, and gained him the perfect confidence of his
companions. At length Ernest and Buttar succeeded in putting every one
of their opponents in prison, and loud shouts from their side proclaimed
that they had won the well-contested victory. The game was over; the
light hoops were laid aside, and Dawson proposed that they should play
at English and French. Their chargers, as they called their heavy
hoops, were brought out from the play-room, and the two parties, joined
by a good many more, drew up on opposite sides of the field. Even some
of the bigger fellows condescended to join in the game. It was
generally supposed to depend more on strength than skill. The strongest
hoops were used, and if a hoop was once down, the owner was obliged to
retire from the field. Just as they were about to begin, Blackall
passed by. Dawson instantly called to him--

"I say, Blackall--there's a good fellow--do come and be our captain.
Here's my biggest hoop--it's a stunner! Under your guidance it is sure
to gain us the victory."

"Well, I don't mind helping you," answered Blackall, carelessly, eyeing,
however, Ernest and Buttar, for both of whom he had an especial dislike.

"That won't do," observed Buttar, who was one of the captains of his
party. "Stay, I'll get Lemon to join us. He won't mind taking a
hoop-stick to help us; and he, and you, and I, together with a few other
good fellows and true, will be able to hold our own against Dawson and
Tommy, even though they have Bully Blackall with them."

Buttar soon found Miles Lemon, who, though he was reading an interesting
book, jumped up with the most good-natured alacrity, and undertook to
a